Department of Numbers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Phoenix fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points lower than the Arizona rate. The unemployment rate in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 13.0% and is now 9.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Phoenix unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Arizona 3.8% -0.2 +0.2
Phoenix 3.1% -0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Phoenix, Arizona, National

Phoenix, Arizona monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Phoenix, Arizona Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 310,142. There are now 229,448 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 71,898 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 8,796. Phoenix employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Phoenix, Arizona) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Phoenix 80,694 -2,984 +1,354

Number of Unemployed Persons

Phoenix, Arizona Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Arizona
Unemployment Rate
Phoenix
Unemployment Rate
Phoenix
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.1% 80,694
December
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.2% 83,678
November
2022
3.6% 4.0% 3.3% 85,375
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 3.3% 84,853
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.2% 81,286
August
2022
3.7% 4.0% 3.0% 77,671
July
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.0% 75,640
June
2022
3.6% 3.8% 2.9% 74,578
May
2022
3.6% 3.7% 2.9% 73,024
April
2022
3.6% 3.6% 2.8% 71,898
March
2022
3.6% 3.6% 2.9% 72,710

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.